Weak Polish thermal coal imports early in 2021 could tighten availability of fine grades, which until recently were oversupplied in the country.

China also added a net 1.2GW of nuclear capacity to 49.9GW, 12.1GW of hydro to 370.2GW and 55.6GW of thermal capacity to 1,245GW.

Russian integrated steel producers NLMK, Severstal and MMK increased raw material production in 2020.

China imported 3.57mn t of coking coal last month, down by 4pc from 3.72mn t in November.

The first shipment of iron ore from Sierra Leone's New Tonkolili Iron Ore Project set sail for China from the country's Pepel Port on Friday.

According to preliminary data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. steel imports fell 21.2%t to 22.019 million tons in 2020 from a year earlier.

The 2105 ferrosilicon contract price on ZCE closed at 6582 yuan per ton on February 2.

The state-owned assets supervision and Administration Commission of Yunnan Province plans to transfer its 90% equity of Kunming Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. to China Baowu for free.